Sign module

ABSTRACT

A SIGN MODULE AND DISPLAY SIGN COMBINATION COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF SUCH MODULES IS DISCLOSED IN WHICH EACH MODULE IS A SELF-POWERED UNIT HAVING A FLEXIBLE TAPE FOR THE DISPLAY OF VISUAL INFORMATION. SELECTED DISPLAY AREAS SPACED IDENTICALLY ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH TAPE ARE POSITIONED BEFORE A LAMP UNIT IN A PLANE TAPE FLIGHT. A PLURALITY OF SUCH MODULES CAN BE COMBINED IN HORIZONTAL ROWS   AND VERTICAL COLUMNS TO PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE SIGN DISPLAY WHICH CAN BE CHANGED AT WILL. CONTROL OF THE TAPE WITHIN EACH MODULE IS ENTIRELY MECHANICAL AND REMOTE OPERATION CAN BE ACHIEVED BY MANUAL OR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED CONTROL UNITS UTILIZING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS.

Oct. 19, 1971 CAFERRO I 3,613,275

SIGN MODULE Filed April 21, 1969 e Sheets-Sheet 2 E W 0000003000 aen fiH G N o O l n INVIL'NTOR.

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bet. 19, 1971 M, CAFERRQ I 3,613,275

S I GN MODULE Filed April 21, 1969 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR.

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Oct. 19, 19 71 S IGN MODULE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Flied April 21, 1969 A MN 0@R WV 6 MN Q o r INVENTOR. Edwnad M. CnfERRo BY I 7/461 flrrys.

Oct. 19, 1971 Filed April 21, 1969 E.M.CAFERRO 5 IGN MODULE 6Shoots-Shoot 6 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Oflice 3,6l3,275 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 3,613,275SIGN MODULE Edward M. Caferro, Spokane, Wash., assignor to American Sign& Indicator Corporation, Spokane, Wash. Filed Apr. 21, 1969, Ser. No.817,825 Int. Cl. G09f 11/28 US. Cl. 40-31 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A sign module and display sign combination comprised of aplurality of such modules is disclosed in which each module is aself-powered unit having a flexible tape for the display of visualinformation. Selected display areas spaced identically along the lengthof each tape are positioned before a lamp unit in a plane tape flight. Aplurality of such modules can be combined in horizontal rows andvertical columns to provide a flexible sign display which can be changedat will. Control of the tape within each module is entirely mechanicaland remote operation can be achieved by manual or automatically operatedcontrol units utilizing electrical signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention in a sign modulearises from the need to automate alpha-numerical sign displays such asare used at the entrances of theaters, auditoriums and sport arenas andother similar large scale displays. Announcement boards of this type areconventionally composed of lighted or unlighted letter supports used inconjunction With manually changed display units. This frequentlyrequires that a person mount a ladder to change letters or words in thedisplay.

Flexible tape displays have been used in limited applications, such asin the display of stations on railroad cars or buses. An example of sucha manual unit is shown in Patent No. 782,994 to Simmons. Only a singleunit is disclosed, and it is manually operated. Electric signs includinga plurality of tapes lighted from a single light source are shown in US.Patent No. 1,695,895 to Goldsmith. The structure shown is a unitary signinvolving the mounting of a number of tapes. A somewhat similar conceptis shown in US. Patent No. 814,684 to Fleming et al.

A powered tape display is shown in Patent No. 1,073,- 927 to Popp. Itagain is concerned with only a single unit, and no lighting mechanism isdisclosed in conjunction with this apparatus.

The present apparatus as disclosed herein is structured as a completesign module. Each module is self-contained, and includes its own lampunit, reversible motor, and control indicating switches by which themotor and lamp unit are operated in conjunction with remote selectivecontrols. The module is designed so that it can be readily set in placein a sign display as required to provide an adequate number of modulesin each horizontal row and vertical column of the display. It is furtherdesigned to facilitate maintenance of the sign by permitting the removaland substitution of modules, which can then be repaired at a shop remotefrom the sign site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a sign module orcombination of such sign modules in a sign display. Each sign moduleincludes a pair of side walls, a sprocket shaft that intermeshes withthe flexible tape of the module, a lamp unit, means for guiding the tapein a path between the wall members and across the lamp unit, yieldabledrums for anchoring the tape ends, and reversible motor drive means torotate the sprocket and drums to step the tape incrementally across thelamp unit.

One object of this invention is to provide an alphanumerical sign modulewhich permits considerable flexibility in display sign design whereinsuch modules are used adjacent to one another in horizontal rows andvertical columns.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sign module whichis entirely self-contained, including an individual lamp unit andreversible electric motor drive apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a sign module whereineach module is provided with mechanically controlled switches toindicate the operating condition of the module during use in a signdisplay.

These and further objects will be evident from the following disclosureof a specific embodiment of the module plus a general description of anexample of the type of control system usable in conjunction with themodule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagramof the present sign display and an example of a control unit;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a single sign module;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the module shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the control cam assembly;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cam assembly as seen from the bottom ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat exploded schematic view of the drive train for themodule;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the module taken from the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the module taken from the right of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the center of asingle drum assembly; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 in FIG. 10.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The following discussion relates to a visual signdisplay wherein the display elements comprise individually powered signmodules arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns as showngenerally in FIG. 1. The sign shown at the top right hand corner in FIG.1 consists of a plurality of backlighted sign modules 10. The number ofsign modules 10 in each row or column is dependent upon the type ofmessage to be displayed and space requirements or limitations at aparticular installation.

Each module 10 contains a movable tape 25, (FIG. 4) that is selectivelypositioned relative to the visual display area of the module. The tape25 might have any type of visual indica imprinted thereon, includingalpha-numerical symbols (as illustrated) or complete Words, phrases orsentences. Examples of sign displays where such an apparatus might beused include theatre displays, outdoor or indoor advertising displays,sports arena score boards, airline departure and arrival displays etc.

FIG. 1 attempts to illustrate in functional block form an example of thecontrol apparatus for operating the modules 10. Where a large number ofmodules 10 is utilized, it is desirable to interrelate the controls andprovide minimum duplication of elements. In such an installation, themodules 10 are wired in a cross grid system. The vertical wiresindicated at the top of the sign in FIG. 1 control forward and reversetape movement of the mod ules in each vertical column. The horizontalwires indicated generally at the left of the sign in FIG. 1 controlhoming of the modules and common motor and lamp activating circuits forthe modules of an entire horizontal row.

The control module 11, which normally is remote from the sign, containsall of the manually operated mechanisms used to operate the modules 10.These include row selector switch means used to direct the controls tothe several rows of modules by connections schematically illustrated at12. In the sequence of resetting the modules within a row, it isnecessary to first move all of the tapes of the modules to a home orreference position, from which all other display areas are referenced.In the example of a module shown in FIGS. 2-11, the reference area is ablank visual area at the center of each tape 25, with letters andnumbers arranged at each side of the reference area in both directions.As an alternative, the reference area might be at one end of the tape orat any other location within the ends of the tape. The homing of themodules in a row is generally controlled by the home circuits shown at13. The individual tapes of all modules in a row are moved to homeposition simultaneously and then simultaneously started toward theirrespective desired positions, each module being stopped when thisposition is attained.

After the modules of a row have been moved to home, each is stepped anumber of times such as to present its chosen display. The type of inputcontrol can be manual or automatic. The input signal is preferably inthe form of an electronic code. Code input means 14 is utilized toprovide the coded signal for all modules in a row at the linesschematically shown at 20, this signal corresponding to the number ofincremental steps necessary to move the tape 25 within each module 10from the home or reference area on the tape to the desired display area.This signal is fed to a comparator 17. The comparator 17 also receives apulsed signal from a pulser 15, designed to produce a master pulse in aperiodic sequence as required for proper mechanical operation of the rowof modules 10.

The pulses are received by a counter 16, which is reset as each row ofmodules is initially activated by the control module 11. The countedpulses are matched with respect to the signal from the code inputcircuitry 14 by the comparator 17.

The pulsed signal from pulser is passed through column operatingcircuits 18 which govern forward and reverse operation of the motors ineach column of modules. When the comparator 17 senses that the masterpulses have matched the requirement of the code input 20 for a chosencolumn, the column operating circuit 18 is conditioned to terminatemovement of the module in the activated row. When movement of the tapesin a row has terminated, the process is then repeated to reset eachsucceeding row of modules.

THE SIGN MODULE The details of a sign module are shown in FIGS. 21 1.The structural elements of the module include two side walls 21, 22. Thewalls 21, 22 are parallel and rigidly joined by front spacer shafts 23and rear spacer shafts 24. The terms front and rear, top, and bottomwill be used herein in reference to the intended orientation of themodule in a sign display, the front of the module being that portionwhich faces outwardly in the display.

' The sign indicia is imprinted on a length of tape 25 attached atopposite ends to drum assemblies 26, 27. The tape 25 includes aforwardly facing plane flight 28 which extends across a lamp unit 30containing a suitable lamp and reflectors and including a planetranslucent face 31 which defines the visual display area of the signmodule. Indicia on tape 25 in flight 28 within this display area willtherefore be backlighted by the lamp unit 30.

The tape 25 is moved by a geared drive mechanism including a Genevamovement shown in FIG. 8 at 32. Power is supplied by a reversibleelectric motor 33 mounted to the inside surface of wall 21. The outputof motor 33 is delivered through a pair of stepped down idler gears 34,35 on the inside surface of wall 21 to a driving disc 36 of the Genevamovement 32. Disc 36 includes 4 two driving pins 37 and is thereforerotated one half revolution to cause each incremental movement of thedriven Geneva gear 38.

The gear 38 is used to rotate a cross shaft which has a small drivinggear 40 on the outer surface of wall 21 and an enlarged driven gear 41at its opposite end at the outer surface of wall 22. Gear 41 engages agear 42 on the lower drum assembly 27. It operatively drives a gear 43on the upper drum assembly 26 by means of an interposed idler gear 44'.The gears 41 through 44 are identical to one another. The gear 43 inturn drives a smaller gear 45 fixed solidly to the end of a sprocketshaft 46 (FIG. 4) which spans the space separating walls 21 and 22. Atone end, the shaft 46 includes radially projecting sprocket teeth 47(FIGS. 2, 3 and 7) which mesh with equally spaced apertures 48 formedalong the corresponding edge of tape 25. The sprocket shaft 46 serves asthe direct monitor of the movement and positioning of tape 25 for bothdriving of the tape and indexing of its position relative to the displayarea of the sign module.

The driving connections to the drum assemblies 26, 27 do not apply adirect rotating force to the periphery of the drums to which the ends ofthe tape 25 are secured. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, each drum assemblyincludes an outer drum 50 to which the ends of the tape 25 arerespectively fixed and about which the tape is wound. The drum 50 isrotatably supported by hearings on the drum shaft 51 which in turn isfixed tothe driven gear 42 or 43. Rotational movement of shaft 51 aboutits axis is yieldably transmitted to the drum 50 by means of a spiralspring 49 fixed at its inner end to shaft 51 and at its outer end todrum 50. The winding of spring 49 is such as to always provide propertension to the tape 25 so as to maintain tape 25 in a reasonably tautposition across the front of the sign module. Springs 49 are woundoppositely and are pre-set at the tape reference position so as tomaintain proper balance in the tension of the tape 25 as it moves acrossthe front of the sign module. The movement of the tape 25 is at alltimes directly controlled by the intermeshing of teeth 47 on the shaft46 with the film apertures 48.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the drive train used in the sign moduleand the manner in which the various driving elements are interconnectedacross the two side walls of the module. All of the various movingcomponents which control the operation of tape 25 are operated from thecommon drive source, so that accurate indexing is possible by use of thesingle sprocket shaft 46 without the necessity of additional positioningmonitoring devices.

The tape 25 in one embodiment of this invention has imprinted on it theletters of the alphabet and the num hers I through 9, plus severalcommon symbols used for display purposes. These are arranged in anydesired order on the tape within a plurality of tape areas that arerepeated along the length of the tape in equally spaced positions. Oneof these areas is utilized as a pre-selected reference area, which willbe referred to herein as the home or reference area of the tape. As anexample, the reference area might be at the center of the tape and thevarious letters and numerals arranged outwardly from the center in theorder in which each letter or numeral would most often appear in thematerial being displayed. Certain letters of the English alphabet areused generally with much greater frequency than others. To minimize thenumber of steps needed to move the tape 25 from the reference area tothe desired sign display, one can make use of the statistical frequencyin which the individual letters are used in the language by arrangingthe letters at both sides of the reference area in a descending order inrelation to usage.

The design of the gearing disclosed is such that each one halfrevolution of the disc 36 will result in the sprocket 46 being rotatedan amount adequate to shift from one tape area to the next across themodule display area at lamp unit 30. Thus the controls for the modulemust operate motor 33 for a period of time adequate to achieve thenumber of incremental steps corresponding to the position of the desiredtape area relative to the reference area. This period can be related toa repetitive pulsed signal. With a reference area at the center of thetape, such movement must also take into account whether it is necessaryto move the tape in one direction or the other from the reference area,referred to herein as either forward or reverse directions.

One method by which the instant module can be controlled is by simplyproviding a manually operated switch apparatus capable of selectivelymoving motor 33 in either the forward or reverse directions, relyingsolely upon visual inspection of the sign module to determine the properplacement of indicia before the module display area. This is entirelysatisfactory in small installations and in those which are changedrather infrequently. It provides the greatest economy in control design.

Where more extensive controls are desired, certain position indicationsare necessary in order to operate control mechanism that would beautomatically moving the tape by energizing the motor 33. Essentiallythe indications relate to the position of the tape 25 relative to thereference area, the direction in which the tape 25 has been moved fromits home position, and the angular position of the pins 37, whichinclude some free movement when they are disengaged from the Geneva gear38.

Electrical signals are provided by switches mounted on the walls 21, 22and operated by the various unit members. A pair of switches 52, 53(FIG. 4) are operated by a first cam 54 having a pair of diametricallyopposite lobes about its periphery. Cam 54 rotates with disc 36. Thelobes of cam 54 and the positions of switches 52, 53 are such inrelation to the Geneva movement 32 that the switch 53 is activated atposition (when a tape area is centered at the module display area).Switch 52' is also activated simultaneously at position.

A larger diameter geared cam 55 (FIG. 9) is mounted at the outer surfaceof side wall 22. The drive train design is such that cam 55 will beturned less than one complete revolution during maximum tape movementacross lamp unit from one end of tape 25 to the other. It is providedwith an inwardly facing arcuate cam having an outer peripheral surfaceselectively engaged by arcuately spaced switch assemblies 56, 57. Theswitches 56, 57 and the cam surfaces on cam 55 are positioned such thatthe switch 56 will be activated when the tape has been moved in aforward direction from the central reference area and the switch 57 willbe activated when the tape has been moved in a reverse direction fromthe same reference area. When the tape 25 is in its home position withthe reference area centered in the module display area, both switchassemblies 56, 57 will be de-activated. In addition, a single pin 58which extends inwardly beyond cam '55 is used to activate a switch 60mounted on wall 22. The angular position of. pin 58 and the position ofswitch 60 is such that the switch 60 will be operated only when the tape25 is at the home position. Switch 60 is used to turn off the lamp unit30 when the module is at the home position.

Two limit switches 61, 62 are mounted to walls 22 (FIG. 9) in the pathof movement of pin 58. They are located so as to be respectivelyactivated by contact with pin 58 when the tape 2'5 has been moved to itslimit in either the forward or reverse direction respectively. They arepreferably included in the control circuitry for motor 33 to deactivatethe motor '33 and prevent the tape 25 from being pulled from either thedrum assemblies 26, 27.

Various automatic and semi-automatic control assemblies can be used todrive the tape 25 to the home position and then to the desired displayposition so as to project the required indicia at the front of themodule. In addition, position indicators can be added to the module forfeedback purposes to provide positive signals relating to the positionof the tape across the module face. The details of such devices arebeyond the scope 6 of this description and would not necessarily involvethe modification of the physical structure illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sign module of the type utilizing a flexible tape having indiciaimprinted thereon within identically spaced areas along its length,comprising:

a pair of side wall members fixed relative to one another in spacedpositions;

a sprocket shaft rotatably journalled at its respective ends by saidwall members, said sprocket shaft having radial teeth projectingtherefrom adapted to mesh with complementary apertures formed along thetape;

a lamp unit fixed between the wall members;

a flexible tape having indicia imprinted thereon within identicallyspaced areas along its length;

guide means for movingly supporting the tape between the wall members insuch a fashion as to present a plane flight across said lamp unit;

yieldable drum means rotatably journalled between said wall members andanchoring the tape ends;

and reversible motor driven means mounted to said wall membersoperatively connected to said sprocket shaft and to said drum means forstepping the tape along said plane flight by incremental distances'equalto the spacing between successive areas of said tape;

said motor driven means comprising:

a motor mounted to the wall members and having a rotatable output shaft;

a gear train drivingly connecting the sprocket shaft and said drummeans;

and a Geneva movement having an intermittently movable output memberoperatively interposed between the output shaft of the motor and saidgear train, the intermittent motion imparted through the Geneva movementresulting in incremental motion of the tape;

rotatable cam means drivingly engaged by the gear train for rotationalmovement in an amount less than a complete revolution during maximumtape movement;

and switch means on said Wall elements operatively engaged by the cammeans adapted to be activated upon rotation of the cam means from apreselected reference position in a preselected direction of rotationabout its cam axis.

2. A sign module of the type utilizing a flexible tape having indiciaimprinted thereon within identically spaced areas along its length,comprising:

a pair of side wall members fixed relative to one another in spacedpositions;

a sprocket shaft rotatably journalled at its respective ends by saidwall members, said sprocket shaft having radial teeth projectingtherefrom adapted to mesh with complementary apertures formed along thetape;

a lamp unit fixed between the wall members;

a flexible tape having indicia imprinted thereon within identicallyspaced areas along its length;

guide means for movingly supporting the tape between the wall members insuch fashion as to present a plane flight across said lamp unit;

yieldable drum means rotatably journalled between said wall members andanchoring the tape ends;

and reversible motor driven means mounted to said wall membersoperatively connected to said sprocket shaft and to said drum means forstepping the tape along said plane flight by incremental distances equalto the spacing between successive areas of said tape;

said motor driven means comprising:

a motor mounted to the wall members and having a rotatable output shaft;

a gear train drivingly connecting the sprocket shaft and said drummeans;

and a Geneva movement having an intermittently movable output memberoperatively interposed between the output shaft of the motor and saidgear train, the intermittent motion imparted References Cited throughthe Geneva movement resulting in UNITED STATES PATENTS mcrememal thetape; 658,375 9/1900 KennedyMcGreg0r 40 31 X. a rotatable memberdrlvingly engaged by the gear 1 218 082 3/1917 Han 4O 31 UX trainadapted to rotate less than a complete 5 1,363,061 2/1921 Senmeyer 4O 31revolution during maximum tape movement; 1,719,606 7/1929 Hamel 4031 andswitch means on said Wall elements operatively 3,255,541 6/ 1966Bettcher 40-31 engaged by the rotatable member adapted to be activatedat a pre-selected angular position 10 ROBERT MICHELL Pnmary Examinerthereof. R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner

